The French Senate has voted to cover all parking lots in France above a certain size with solar panels. It is expected to produce 11 gigawatts, bringing France's capacity to 160 gigawatts and nearly double the amount of solar power. What's interesting is the relationship between this panel and the electric car parked underneath.
The law requires properties with more than 80 parking spaces to comply within 5 years, and properties with more than 400 parking spaces in a shorter period of time. This is quite aggressive and will definitely be rejected by the property owner.
I wrote earlier that electric cars will not be a burden to the grid, but can be a lifesaver. The perfect way to achieve this is to install solar power in the parking lot.
Of course, solar panels only provide electricity during the day. Although solar energy is the cheapest form of electricity today, the variability this time poses a problem for most energy uses when people want electricity when they want it. EVs don't really care when they're charging, and when they're parked, it's a great time for them. Electric vehicles are happy to receive electricity when it is needed, and the best way to request it is to offer electricity at low prices during traffic jams. That's exactly what solar panels do. they produce excess in the morning and are then fully utilized in the afternoon when the network is at its peak.
The big advantage of parking panels is the absence of transportation costs. In sunny climates, wholesale prices for early morning solar energy can be as low as 2 cents/kWh, slightly higher in France. Most of the cost of electricity in buildings and homes is divided from distribution and rush hour competition, not from the actual cost of generating electricity. 2 cents per kilowatt hour is almost too cheap to pay attention to. a typical EV driver could spend $60 a year on all their trips at that price. They won't get that price all year long because they want some quick top-ups. In addition, as already mentioned, the cost of construction and the climate and location of France will slightly increase the price.
